While saying it would be a shame to lose the race which only made its F1 debut in 2011, Chandok is confident there is a future for elite motorsport at the Buddh International Circuit.

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Hide Caption

1 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Looking to Lewis – After 15 years with McLaren, Lewis Hamilton has flown the nest and landed in the Mercedes garage. The 2008 world champion is being tipped for success in 2013, with his new teammate Nico Rosberg showing in preseason that the new Mercedes is capable of topping the timesheets.

Hide Caption

2 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

To the four? – But if Hamilton is to win a second drivers' championship, he will have to overcome triple world champion Sebastian Vettel. The German has taken the title in each of the last three years, with his Red Bull team also leaving other manufacturers trailing in their wake.

Hide Caption

3 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Red Bull's rear-view mirror – The title race will not be as simple as Vettel vs. Hamilton. A fired-up Fernando Alonso missed out on the 2012 crown by just three points, and the double world champion will be looking to challenge at the front of the grid given the improvements in his Ferrari following last season's design problems.

Hide Caption

4 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Five first-timers – Five rookies will be on the grid at the Australian Grand Prix, including Valtteri Bottas (pictured) who will be behind the wheel for Williams. Caterham drafted in Giedo van der Garde, while Esteban Gutierrez makes his debut for Sauber and Marussia boast an all-rookie line up of Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton.

Hide Caption

5 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Burned rubber – Pirelli will serve as the official tire supplier in the final season of its three-year contract. The new tire is made of a softer rubber than its 2012 equivalent, with lap times expected to increase by up to half a second.

Hide Caption

6 of 7

Photos:F1: 2013 season preview

Grid shrinks – There will be 11 teams lining up for the first race in Melbourne following the collapse of Spanish outfit HRT after three seasons without scoring a point.

Hide Caption

7 of 7

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

Racing fit for a Principality – The Monaco Grand Prix has been held in the picturesque principality of Monte Carlo on the French Riviera since 1929 and the race remains the jewel in Formula One's crown.

Hide Caption

1 of 7

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

Celebrity sizzle – Monaco is a magnet for celebrities like Hollywood actor Will Smith and popstar Nicole Scherzinger -- who is dating Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton. Smith and "Scherzy" are pictured with Formula One boss Bernie Ecclestone in 2012.

Hide Caption

2 of 7

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

All aboard for Formula One – The tiny city will welcome 200,000 fans over the grand prix weekend with many of them watching from yachts in the harbor.

Unchanged challenge – Monaco's street circuit is relatively unchanged since Formula One cars began racing there in 1950. Stirling Moss says his victory in Monaco in 1961, shown here, was the best race of his career.

Hide Caption

5 of 7

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

Senna's sixth sense – The late triple world champion Ayrton Senna won the Monaco race a record six times and says he entered a "trance-like" state while driving through the narrow streets.

Hide Caption

6 of 7

Photos:Monaco Grand Prix

Unique fans – But for some sun-seekers in Monaco, the cars are a distraction...

Hide Caption

7 of 7

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Canada tragedy – The important role of motorsport's marshals has been highlighted by the death of Canadian Mark Robinson as Esteban Gutierrez's Sauber was removed from the track after the 2013 Canadian Grand Prix.

Hide Caption

1 of 6

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Rain or shine volunteers – There will be close to 1200 volunteers on duty at the British Grand Prix. At the 2012 race they were on hand to help deal with the wet weather at Silverstone.

Hide Caption

2 of 6

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

F1's flag bearers – Some of the marshals communicate messages from race control to the Formula One drivers. Here a red flag, shown at the Monaco Grand Prix, means the track session has been stopped.

Hide Caption

3 of 6

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Expert movers – The marshals are on hand to remove debris from track -- and push cars away to safety. Here they help Pastor Maldonado after his Williams comes to a halt in Monaco.

Hide Caption

4 of 6

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Emergency service – The marshals are also first on the scene when the drivers crash. They are trained in how to support a driver's neck before the medical team arrive. They they were on hand at Felipe Massa's heavy crash at Hungary in 2009.

Hide Caption

5 of 6

Photos:Motorsport's silent heroes

Part of the show – F1's global marshals are as integral to the sport as the drivers. Here some of the Indian Grand Prix marshals meet Red Bull racer Mark Webber in 2012.

Hide Caption

6 of 6

"It'll be a shame if we do lose the grand prix, there's no question about it," Karun Chandhok told CNN.

"One scenario we are trying to evaluate is if we have to miss out on 2014 to then try and extend the existing contract, which is for five grands prix.

"Take a sabbatical for a year and try and solve these issues, whatever they may be, ahead of 2015 and 2016."